kiawah island utility, inc. drinking water quality report Get More Information phone: mail: 31 Sora Rail Road Kiawah Island, SC KIU

Size: px
Start display at page:

Download "kiawah island utility, inc. drinking water quality report Get More Information phone: mail: 31 Sora Rail Road Kiawah Island, SC KIU"

Transcription

1 UTILITY, INC. PRESORTED FIRST-CLASS MAIL US POSTAGE PAID CHARLESTON, SC PERMIT NO. 437 KIU kiawah island utility, inc. 31 Sora Rail Road Kiawah Island, SC Get More Information phone: mail: KIU provides information on demand. Please feel free to contact us to get additional details about your water supply Becky Dennis 31 Sora Rail Road. Kiawah Island, SC drinking water quality report

2 Dear KIU Customer: KIAWAH ISLAND UTILITY, INC. WATER QUALITY TABLE CHARLESTON CPW GENERAL INTEREST CHARLESTON CPW WATER QUALITY TABLE ABBREVIATIONS OF UNITS NTU = Nephelometric Turbidity Units PCU = Platinum Cobalt Units ppm = parts per million (mg/l) ppb = parts per billion (ug/l) umhos/cm = micromohs/centimeter C = Centigrade RAA = Running Annual Average KIU Water Range or Possible Highest Level Other Date Sources Parameter Units Detected Comment MCL Sampled MCLG in Water Parameter CPW Water Average Highest Level Allowed by EPA Regulation (MCL) CPW Water Range Date Parameter Units Highest Level Detected or Other Comments MCL Sampled MCLG Possible Sources in Water Total % positive % % Presence of coliform 26 % Naturally Coliform samples bacteria <5% of present in the Bacteria monthly samples environment Copper ppm.13 (9%) No samples AL = Corrosion of household exceeded the plumbing materials action level Lead ppb (9%) No samples AL = Corrosion of household exceeded the plumbing materials action level TABLE OF DEFINITIONS (MCL) Maximum Contaminant Level The highest level of contaminant that is allowed in drinking water. MCLs are set as close to the MCLGs as feasible, using the best available treatment technology. (MCLG) Maximum Contaminant Level Goal The level of a contaminant in drinking water below which there is no known or expected health risk. MCLGs allow for a margin of safety. (AL) Action Level The concentration of a contaminant that, if exceeded, triggers treatment or other requirements which a water system must follow. (MRDL) Maximum Residual Disinfectant Level The highest level of a disinfectant allowed in drinking water. There is convincing evidence that addition of a disinfectant is necessary for control of microbial contaminants. (TT) Treatment Technique A required process intended to reduce the level of a contaminant in drinking water. (MRDLG) Maximum Residual Disinfectant Level Goal The level of a drinking water disinfectant below which there is no known or expected risk to health. MRDLGs do not reflect the benefits of the use of disinfectants to control microbial contamination. Alkalinity, ppm Chloride, ppm Color, PCU Conductivity, umhos/cm Hardness, ppm Iron, ppm Manganese, ppm Ortho-phosphate, ppm Silica, ppm Temperature, C Total Dissolved Solids (TDS), ppm < REGULATED UNREGULATED Total Coliform Bacteria % positive 3.2 % % to 3.2 % presence of coliform bacteria 26 % naturally present in the environment samples highest level detected in >5% of monthly samples (all repeat samples were satisfactory) in any monthly sample Turbidity NTU.29 1% lowest monthly % TT 26 NA soil runoff of samples meeting limits Copper ppm <.5 no samples exceeded the action level AL= corrosion of household plumbing materials Lead ppb 3 no samples exceeded the action level AL=15 26 corrosion of household plumbing materials Nitrate/Nitrogen ppm.39 NA runoff from fertilizers Fluoride ppm 1.1 NA additive to reduce tooth decay Total Trihalomethanes ppb RAA: 24 9 to NA byproduct of water disinfection process Total Haloacetic acids ppb RAA: 18 7 to NA byproduct of water disinfection process Total Organic Carbon (TOC) ppm RAA: ratio to 3.* TT 26 NA naturally present in the environment Chlorine Dioxide ppb <1 to < byproduct of water disinfection process Chloramine Residual ppm RAA: to 2.6 MRDL= 4 26 MRDLG = 4 water additive used to control microbes Chlorite ppm to byproduct of water disinfection process Sodium ppm 11 none none 23 none naturally occurring and/or byproduct of treatment Giardia in River Water per liter. NA none 26 none human and animal sources Crpytosporidium in River Water per liter. NA none 26 none human and animal sources * TOC Values (1.9 to 3. ppm) 64% TOC removal (45% is required). The range of removal was 51% to 68%. TOC samples are taken on a daily basis.

3 You ll be glad to know that the quality of our drinking water in 26 continued to meet expectations throughout the year. During water quality testing done from January 1 to December 31, 26, we had no violations. Findings show we did not exceed maximum contaminant levels during any testing period of the year. Given the importance of cool, clear, safe water to the human body, we know you want to stay informed about the quality of the drinking water that comes out of your tap. Kiawah Island Utility, Inc. (KIU) is committed to providing you with the latest results of the monitoring activities on your water supply throughout the year. As you read through this report, you ll see a table of drinking water quality data for 26 that comes from Charleston. Charleston Water System (CWS) is the facility that treats water from the Edisto River and Bushy Park Reservoir. The CWS quality report applies to Kiawah s water supply because St. John s Water Company (SJWC) buys its water from CWS, and KIU buys our water from St. John s. CWS s testing numbers are valid for us because neither SJWC nor KIU treats the water in any way that significantly alters its composition. Water makes up 75 percent of your brain, 83 percent of your blood, and 25 percent of your bones. If you were an average adult, the amount of water in your body at any given time would fill up more than 18 twoliter soda bottles. No wonder water is such an essential part of our metabolic processes and our mental and physical abilities. The average human being consumes 75, liters of water in a lifetime. At KIU, we are committed to making sure every drop you drink conforms to standards for quality. As always thank you for your business, and please let us know how we can better serve you now and in the years to come. Sincerely, Becky Dennis Manager This Annual Drinking Water Quality Report is designed to meet the requirements of The Safe Drinking Water Act. The information contained in the report is for Kiawah Island Utility, Inc. (System #118) for the reporting period of 1/1/6 through 12/31/6.

4 Understanding Fees Kiawah Island Utility, Inc. provides water service to individual customers through various size meters. Large meters deliver increasing amounts of water, and fees go up incrementally based on the volume of water the meter is able to provide. The standard 5/8" x 3/4" meter delivery (2 gpm) is used as a Residential Equivalency Unit (REU). Here s an example of the meter sizes and costs associated with each. METER SIZE: GALLONS REU W/S MONTHLY BASE MONTHLY BASE PER MIN TAP FEES (EA) WATER FEE SEWER FEE 5/8" x 3/4" 3/4" 1" 1 1/2" 2" METER SIZE: 5/8" x 3/4" 3/4" 1" 1 1/2" 2" 2 gpm 3 gpm 5 gpm 1 gpm 16 gpm $ ,25 2,5 4, The information to the right summarizes numbers of existing residential dwelling units by meter size. $ SINGLE FAMILY UNITS 1, $ VILLAS/ CONDOS 1,313 1 Periodically we are asked for an explanation of the fees listed below which appear on your monthly utility statement. Here s what they re for: DHEC Fee: This fee is approved by the SCPSC (South Carolina Public Service Commission) to allow the utility to recoup charges assessed by the SC Department of Health and Environmental Control to perform routine monitoring as required under the Safe Drinking Water Act. BACKFLOW Monitoring fee : This SCPSC-approved charge allows the utility to recoup charges associated with monitoring the backflow program required by DHEC regulation.

5 Drinking Water Contaminants In order to ensure that tap water is safe to drink, EPA prescribes regulations which limit the amount of certain contaminants in water provided by public water systems. Drinking water, including bottled water, may reasonably be expected to contain at least small amounts of some contaminants. The presence of contaminants does not necessarily indicate that water poses a health risk. EPA sets standards for approximately 9 contaminants in drinking water. Contaminants that may be present in source water include microbial contaminants, inorganic contaminants, pesticides and herbicides, organic chemical contaminants, and radioactive contaminants. CONTAMINANT: Microbial Inorganic Pesticides & herbicides organic Radioactive EXAMPLE: such as viruses and bacteria, which may come from septic systems, agricultural livestock operations, and wildlife. such as salts and metals, which can be naturally occurring or result from storm water runoff, industrial or domestic wastewater discharges, oil and gas production, mining, or farming. may come from a variety of sources such as agriculture, runoff, and residential uses. including synthetic and volatile organics, which are by-products of industrial processes and petroleum production, and can also come from gas stations, runoff, and septic systems. which can be naturally occurring or be the result of oil and gas production and mining activities. More Information: EPA s standards, along with each contaminant s likely source and health effects, are available at safewater/mcl.html. More information about contaminants and potential health effects can be obtained by calling the Environmental Protection Agency s (EPA s) Safe Drinking Water Hotline at Kiawah Island Utility, Inc. fully supports South Carolina s efforts to prevent contamination in watershed areas that supply drinking water. The SCDHEC report identifies two potential contaminant sources of moderate susceptibility for the KIU deep well ground water system. This deep well is an approved emergency supply for potable use under DHEC guidelines. It s easy to get more information about ways in which our state offers protection. Just go to The Source Water Assessment and Protection Program (SWAP) for South Carolina at

6 A Few Drops of Info NORMAL OPERATIONS: To speak directly to a staff member, please call our office at during business hours; (8 am 5 pm Monday through Thursday, until 4:3 pm Friday). The staff at KIU is trained to assist you in each area of water and wastewater operations and billing, so you can expect personal attention and a high level of expertise no matter who takes your call. As always, we re eager to get feedback on our operations and how we can improve our service. EMERGENCY CONTACT: Help from Kiawah Island Utility is always a phone call away, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. You can reach our field operations staff after hours by calling our duty pager at , or by leaving a message on the office phone CHECK BY PHONE PAYMENTS: We have heard your requests and are pleased to begin offering the following methods of payment. Now you can use our check by phone system to pay your KIU bill. To use this option, please contact Vicky Dyke, our Senior Accountant. Vicky can be reached either by phone or vicky_dyke@kiawahisland.com. WEBSITE IN THE WINGS: Soon you ll have another way to get the latest information about water and sewer operations on Kiawah Island. Watch your utility statement for information and updates on this new way to access our organization via links to staff members and other entities serving Kiawah Island. IMMUNO-COMPROMISED PERSONS: Some people may be more vulnerable to contaminants in drinking water than the general population. Immuno-compromised persons such as individuals with cancer undergoing chemotherapy, persons who have undergone transplants, people with HIV/ AIDS or other immune system disorders, some elderly, and infants can be particularly at risk for infection. These people should seek advice about drinking water from their healthcare providers. EPA/CDC guidelines on appropriate means to lessen the risk of infection by Cryptosporidium and other microbial contaminants are available from the Safe Drinking Water Hotline at

7